Friday, June 5, 2015

Jack Staples and The Poet’s Storm - Mark Batterson and Joel N. Clark

Jack Staples and The Poet’s Storm
Mark Batterson and Joel N. Clark
David C. Cook, Jun 1 2015, $14.99
ISBN: 9781434707321

So much has happened in a very short time to the three young friends since the scales fell from their eyes; enabling newly Awakened Jack Staples, Alexia Dreager and Arthur Greaves to truly see.  Their elderly teacher Mrs. Dumphry informed Jack and Alexia that each is The Child of Prophecy who will lead the Awakened against the Assassin and his horde; and that Arthur is the Lightning Dancer (see Jack Staples and the Ring Of Time). 

Barely escaping on flying animals from the City of Shadows (see Jack Staples and the City of Shadows), the trio, their mentor and dwindling allies have no time to rest as the Assassin, his horde of 10,000 troops and the rapidly expanding Darkness pursue them.  A short respite at an oasis ends with their hosts fleeing or transforming into evil when the Darkness engulfs the locale as fawn and fauna must choose between the Assassin and the Author.  Losing all faith in winning the Last Battle, mentally and physically exhausted Jack teeters on the brink of surrender.  His sister Alexia struggles with guilt for leaving behind in the City of Shadows her Gang of Rogues friends and an obsession to rescue her mom whom she though was dead.  Only Arthur having taken the critical Poet’s Coffer from the Assassin provides a glimmer of hope.

The final Jack Staples (Alexia Dreager and Arthur Greaves) saga provides a stunning finish to an excellent Christian good and evil fantasy.  Fast-paced throughout the tremendous trilogy, tweeners will anticipate the High Noon showdown between the Author and the Assassin while wondering which of the Children of Prophecy will go dark.


Harriet Klausner

No comments: